A substantial five-figure damages settlement has been secured for a pedestrian who suffered a string of injuries – causing him to miss six months of work – when a car driver hit him from behind and drove off, leaving him unconscious in the road.
The man, of Wales, had visited a friend after work and was walking home along a road which had no footpath, but plenty of room for vehicles to pass safely. He suddenly became aware of a car approaching and the next thing he knew he had been hit from behind.
The driver continued for around 60 metres with the man clinging on to the front windscreen wipers before applying breaks and throwing him into the road. The driver then left the scene without seeking any medical assistance for the pedestrian, with witnesses calling an ambulance.
The man suffered fractures to both wrists which required pins and plates and he needed reconstruction surgery to his right hand. He was also left with a severely bruised left leg and foot.
More than two years on from the accident he continues to suffer from back and neck pain, and from psychological trauma. Now, a personal injury claim, led by solicitor Mobeena Salim of Hudgell Solicitors, has secured him a substantial, five-figure out of court damages settlement.
Personal Injury claim secured ‘much higher damages’ than criminal injuries award
Mrs Salim said: “This was an interesting case for a number of reasons, the first obviously being the unusual circumstances of the incident and the fact that there has since been criminal proceedings against the driver, who was convicted of causing serious injury through dangerous driving and jailed.
“Our client had left it quite late to pursue a personal injury claim given there is a three year time limit from the date of injury. Given this happened in early 2018 and he only contacted us at the start of the year, we acted quickly.
“He had already received a damages payment through the Government’s Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) scheme of just over £6,000, however, it was our opinion that given his injuries, and their likely impact on his life, a personal injury claim should still be pursued as we knew a damages settlement would be far in excess of that he had already been awarded.
“We informed our client that, should the case be successful, his CICA payment would have to be repaid, because two claims cannot be pursued for damages with regards to the same injuries, and this of course was something he was very happy to do when the settlement offer was made.”
Case settled in under six months without need for court hearing
The case was settled in under six months of Hudgell Solicitors contacting insurers of the driver, without independent medical experts assessing his injuries and providing opinions on their likely long term impact.
“In cases where serious injuries are suffered we advise clients to undergo independent medical assessments as this can help us more accurately quantify the level of damages they should receive,” explained Mrs Salim.
“In enables us to take into account expert opinions on the impact the injuries suffered are likely to have on their ability to earn and their future quality of life.”
“In this matter, this was something we advised, but our client was very keen to bring this entire matter to a close and move on.”
“In each and every case, it is our duty to do the very best for those injured in terms of the financial damages and rehabilitation support we can secure, offering experienced advice on what should bring the best result.”
“However, at the same time we appreciate that everybody’s own individual circumstances are different, and that many people are keen to see matters resolved as quickly as possible. In this case our client had been through some difficult times prior to this incident, so being able to bring the matter to a speedy conclusion, and still secure substantial damages, was a good result for him and he was pleased.”
Client delighted with ‘five-star’ support from Hudgell Solicitors
The man said he had been delighted with the support provided through Hudgell Solicitors, leaving a five-star review of the firm on the independent customer review site, Trustpilot.
“I was helped every step of the way with all aspects of my claim,” he said.
“I was also given great advice and every question I asked was answered honestly and professionally. I would highly recommend Hudgell Solicitors to anybody.”
No win no fee personal injury lawyers
Our expert personal injury solicitors specialise in handling all types of personal injury claims, ensuring you receive quality legal representation without upfront fees. If you’ve suffered a road traffic accident, our experienced team will guide you through every stage of the claims process.
With our no win no fee agreement, there are no hidden charges or financial risks. You’ll only pay a pre-agreed percentage of your compensation if your case is successful. This allows you to focus on recovery and seeking justice, with no financial burden if things don’t go as expected. Our team will work diligently to secure the compensation you deserve while providing transparent and supportive advice.
Let us fight for your rights and help you obtain the financial support you need to recover from your injury.
